Record-breaking Ridgeway Run proves to be a real classic

Tring Running Club welcomed a record 564 runners to its 34th annual Ridgeway Run – with the competitors rewarded with a beautifully sunny morning in the Chiltern Hills.

The run itself is a challenging 15k, off-road route, following local trails from Tring through Ashridge across to Pitstone Hill and back through Aldbury Nowers, before finishing at Tring Cricket Club.

At 10am runners of all abilities set of from Marshcroft Lane; the race was led from the start by Fabian Downs of Chiltern Harriers – a lead he never relinquished as he won in a new course record of 52:40.

Downs was three minutes ahead of nearest challenger James Buis, of Border Harriers, who was second in a time of 55:20. James is an incredible six-time winner of this event and has been second placed finisher for the last 2 years.

The third placed male was Thomas Grimes, of East London Harriers, in a time of 56:22.

The ladies’ race, meanwhile, was won by local runner Kate Rennie from Dacorum & Tring AC, who slashed more than six minutes off the course record with a time of 1:02:55.

In second place was Wendy Webster of St Albans Striders with a time of 1:03:44, and she was followed home by Kelly Barnett(Wellingborough & District AC) with a time of 1:04:24.

This years men’s team event was won by a very strong Gade Valley Harriers outfit, who also took second place in the overall team event.

Also in action were three-time champion jump jockey Richard Dunwoody MBE and multi-national champion cyclist Jenny Copnall – it’s no wonder that this race is being described as a classic!